Hold onto your wrestling tights, folks! The “Phenomenal One” himself, AJ Styles, just made a colossal return to the Japanese wrestling scene, marking his first non-WWE match in eight years. After parting ways with TNA in 2014, Styles took Japan by storm, leading the Bullet Club in NJPW and setting the wrestling world ablaze before joining WWE in 2016. Now, thanks to WWE’s newfound spirit of collaboration, Styles stepped back into the ring at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Destination event on July 13, facing off against none other than Naomichi Marufuji, a bona fide legend of the squared circle.
Strutting into the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo with his iconic entrance mask, Styles looked every bit the wrestling deity we remember from his NJPW days. He squared off against Marufuji, who, despite being a veteran, has shown he can still hang with the best, taking down stars like Will Ospreay and Kota Ibushi. But in a clash of titans that lasted nearly 30 minutes, it was Styles who emerged victorious, nailing the Styles Clash to seal the deal. Post-match, the two warriors showed mutual respect with a heartfelt handshake, bow, and hand-raise. Pure class, folks!
Now, it’s back to the U.S. for Styles as WWE gears up for its blockbuster SummerSlam event on August 3. While he’s not yet on the card, the anticipation is hotter than a summer day in the Sahara. Styles hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since his clash with Cody Rhodes at Clash at the Castle in Scotland, but you can bet he’ll be looking for a path to the Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Meanwhile, Marufuji will continue to grace the Pro Wrestling NOAH and independent circuits, maintaining his status as a revered veteran and a force to be reckoned with. Wrestling fans, keep your eyes peeled – the best is yet to come!